The Herman Miller Collection
For many, the company Herman Miller
is synonymous with the office – in
particular the ground-breaking Aeron
chair which changed the face of office
seating when it was launched in 1994,
and continues to roll off the production
line at a rate of one every 17 seconds.
While Aeron was unique in many ways,
the approach to its design was far from
revolutionary. The ground work began
with the first Director of Design for
Herman Miller, George Nelson who held
the position from 1946 to 1972. During
his tenure, George Nelson defined a
set of principles that have guided the
company ever since: what we make is
important; design is an integral part
of the business; the product must be
honest; we decide what we make; there
is a market for good design.
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Putting this philosophy into action,
Nelson launched the Herman Miller
Contact Details
Phone: 020 3077 5554
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Herman Miller Ltd
Twitter: @hermanmillerltd
Collection in 1948 which he described
as ‘a permanent collection designed to
meet fully the requirements for modern
living.’ The Herman Miller Collection
has been through various iterations
since its inception, but a key element
is the continual showcase of designers
who share the company’s values and
attitudes.
With that in mind the current Collection
presents updated archival pieces
alongside new designs from today’s top
talent – bridging Herman Miller’s past,
present and future. You’ll find designs
from the 1940s onwards juxtaposed
with pieces from the present day –
seen together in every environment,
these designs, whether they are by
Isamu Noguchi, Ward Bennett or
BassamFellows, all speak the same
language, and all reflect those design
principles set out by George Nelson.
Each piece in the Herman Miller
Collection requires a delicate balance
between craft and industrial process. The
Collection uses the latest technology
and newest materials available, but it
remains grounded in the quality and
value produced by the thoughtfulness,
and individual human touches of the
workers who assemble many of its pieces
by hand. Alongside this are the materials
used for each product. State-of-the-art
textiles build on decades of learning
and investigation, with carefully chosen
materials that use new processes or
embrace the ties to our design heritage.
Whether it is the designer, production
or materials, each offering serves
the product and the user while
also innovatively exemplifying the
Collection’s DNA: practical beauty.
www.hermanmiller.co.uk/collection